The Current for Feb. 19, 2021
Today on The Current:
Facebook is drawing condemnation around the world for blocking Australian users from sharing and viewing news on its platform. The move comes after Australia announced plans to force tech giants to pay media companies for the work they do. Terry Flew, professor of communication and creative industries at the University of Sydney, shares his reaction to the situation. And Dwayne Winseck, a journalism and communication professor at Carleton University, explains why this could be a cautionary tale for Canada.
Then, Inuit women and children in Canada face violence at a rate 14 times higher than others in Canada. Last month, the federal government announced funding for shelters for Inuit women experiencing domestic violence — a move that women's advocates have welcomed. Matt Galloway speaks with Rebecca Kudloo, president of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada; Becky Michelin, who lost both of her parents in a murder-suicide in Rigolet, Labrador; and Ginette Demers, director of violence against women shelters and services for the YWCA NWT.
Plus, our national affairs panel weighs in on China, the Liberals' gun buy-back plan, and new vaccine targets. Our guests are Vassy Kapelos, host of the CBC's Power & Politics; Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute; and Maura Forrest, a political reporter for Politico Canada.
And Canadian health officials have been warning about the rise of new coronavirus variants, and how they could impact our COVID-19 curve. But with case numbers also dropping, is there reason for hope? Globe and Mail health columnist André Picard weighs in on that topic, and Canada's vaccine rollout.